Self-clamping vibrator and track mount therefor

ABSTRACT

A combination vibrator and elongated track therefor in which the track is adapted to be rigidly affixed to a structure to be vibrated; and the vibrator, when idle, is adapted to be selectively positioned along the track without being dismounted from the track; and the vibrator includes self-clamping means operative, when the vibrator is running, to lock the vibrator to its selected position in the track. Additionally, a plurality of vibrators may be similarly mounted, and power means may be employed to move the released vibrator or vibrators along the track for re-positioning.

States Patent Fischer SELF-CLAMPING VIBRATOR AND TRACK MOUNT THEREFOR [75] Inventor: Peter A. Fischer, Neponset, Ill. [73] Assignee: Martin Engineering Company,

Neponset, Ill.

[22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,995

[52] US. Cl 74/86, 259/72, 259/DIG. 43, 425/456 [51] Int. Cl B06b 1/16 [58] Field of Search..... 74/87, 86; 259/72, DIG. 41,

259/DIG. 42, DIG. 43; 425/456 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,119,174 5/1938 Nicolas 259/D1G. 42

10/1943 Baily 259/DlG. 41 4/1973 Hubmann 425/456 Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker [5 7] ABSTRACT A combination vibrator and elongated track therefor in which the track is adapted to be rigidly affixed to a structure to be vibrated; and the vibrator, when idle, is adapted to be selectively positioned along the track without being dismounted from the track; and the vibrator includes self-clamping means operative, when the vibrator is running, to lock the vibrator to its selected position in the track. Additionally, a plurality of vibrators may be similarly mounted, and power means may be employed to move the released vibrator or vibrators along the track for re-positioning.

18 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SELF-CLAMPING VIBRATOR AND TRACK MOUNT THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of vibrators for compacting, settling, accelerating flow, etc., of fluent and like materials is well known. Because structures to be vibrated are often of substantial size, the vibratory effects must be applied thereto over widely separated areas. This means that either several vibrators must be used or that fewer vibrators be used interchangeably from one position to others. The latter option has been that more commonly exploited and various systems have been devised for mounting and remounting the vibrators. In a simple system, the vibrator is welded to its initial location, cut loose and re-welded to a new location. In other sys tems, the structure to be vibrated is initially provided with several fixed mounts and a single vibrator is selectively changed from mount to mount as circumstances require.

Any of these methods involves considerable time, effort and expense, which will be obvious in the case of weld and re-weld. In the mount and re-mount system, the vibrator mount must be specially designed (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,733 to Peterson, for example), as must the base of the vibrator. Several removable parts are involved. So far as is known, no provision has been made for using a simple elongated track, affixed to the structure, along which the vibrator may be selectively positioned, and automatically locked, without removal from the track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an elongated track system is utilized, employing a track means affixed to the structure to be vibrated and along which one or more vibrators may be moved to new positions without clear removal from the track means. In the first place, this eliminates handling of the weight of the vibrator. Secondly, a new position or positions may be achieved by simply sliding the vibrator along the track. Combined with tracks of special configuration are base means on the vibrator or vibrators which interfit with the track means, and this relationship is used to exploit a self-clamping feature of the vibrator; that is, a clamp means that automatically locks the vibrator to the track means in its selected position substantially simultaneously with activation of the vibrator. Conversely, when the vibrator is deactivated, the clamp means is unlocked. These features are of special importance where the structure to be vibrated is quite long, as in the casting of concrete slabs, beams, etc., in which case the configured track may be made as long as the form, whether straight; curved or otherwise. Consequently, a single vibrator may be used with a single track. The invention also makes provision for the use of a plurality of interconnected vibrators, together with means, preferably power operated, for moving the deactivated vibrators along the track to new positions.

The power source for operating the vibrator or vibrators is used also for the clamp means, and the latter is preferably of the hydraulic or air-inflatable type expandable between the vibrator and the track for locking the former to the latter, thus making the vibrator self-clamping.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective, with the structure to be vibrated shown in phantom, of a preferred embodiment of the inventive combination.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of one type of vibrator, track and clamp means.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another form of track means.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the system.

FiG. 6 is a broken-away end view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The structure to be vibrated is designated at 10 in broken lines in FIG. 1, and chosen here for purposes of illustration is a form for the casting of a double-T" concrete slab or beam, the sla part being formed in the upper area 12 and the depending legs of the Toccurring in the areas 14. The structure or form is conventiohally of steel and is of substantial length, not uncommonly on the order of several hundred feet long. By way of example, there is shown at side of the form 10 a track means 16 coextensive in length, extent, etc., with the side of the form. This track or track means, in one form of the invention, includes a channel 18, rigidly aftixed to the side of the form 10 as by welding at several points or even continuously along the length of the form. The channel 18 has a cross web 20 which, in cooperation with a pair of steel angles 22, forms an outwardly facing channel of which the web 20 is the bottom and the flanges 24 of the angles form inturned portions facing but spaced apart from each other crosswise of the length of the form and track.

A rotary vibrator 26 has a base 28, the side portions of which interfit or interengage with the track flanges 24. From the description thus far, and without more, it will be seen that the vibrator 26 is slidable or repositionable along the track means 16 without removal therefrom. It is also seen that the dimensions of the vibrator are such that the vibrator occupies only a relatively small portion of the track. The vibrator may be of the air-operated, rotary type typical of those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,917,290 and 3,076,346 to Peterson and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,163 to Matson.

Such vibrator features a housing having an inner annular chamber 30 within which a circular rotor 32 is eccentrically carried. A port 34 is receivable of air under pressure to drive the rotor 32 in its orbit within the chamber 30. An air discharge port is provided at 35. The details, not important here, are available in the above patents.

The vibrator has a bottom 36, attachable by pins 38, and providing a bottom chamber 40. The bottom is welded or otherwise affixed to the plate or base 28, the latter of which is ported at 42 and supplemented by annular necks 44 to communicate respectively with a pair of inflatable pancakes" or elastomer envelopes 46, here shown as being circular (FIG. 3). The envelopes 46 are respectively confined in part by arcuate ribs 48 and in part by the angles 22 (FIG. 6) and, when inflated, expand between the web 20 and the vibrator to cause the plate or base portions 28 to positively engage the undersides of the overhanging flanges 24, thus locking the vibrator 26 to the track means 16.

For the purpose of inflating or activating the clamp means afforded by the inflatable envelopes 46 and at the same time activating or operating the vibrator, the air power source for the vibrators (here a typical pressure pump P) is interconnected so that the two functions occur simultaneously substantially so. See FIGS. 2 and 5.

It has been previously explained that the chamber 30 is pressurized by the port 34 and that the envelopes or pancakes" 46 are pressurized via the chamber 40 and ports 42. It remains only to connect the chamber 40 to the port 34, and this is done by passages 50 and 52 in the vibrator 26 and external conduit means 56 connected at one end to the port 34 and at its other end at 58 to the passages 50 and 52 and to an inlet line 60 which is in turn connected to the pump P via a valve V (FIG. Thus, when the vibrator 26 is activated or pressurized by the pump P (via the valve V), the clamp means 46 is also activated, and, when the vibrator is running or operative, the clamp means is effective or activated to lock the vibrator to the track means 16. When the valve V is operated to discontinue pressure to the vibrator, it also shuts off pressure to the clamp means 46, meaning that the idle vibrators are unlocked from the track meansbut do not separate therefrom and may be repositioned along the track.

In the most simplistic form of the invention, the vibrator, used singly, may be manually shifted to a new position. This alone is an advantage over the known prior art, because the vibrator remains in the tracki.e., does not have to be dismounted and may be easily slid to a new position and thus does not have to be lifted; no removable parts are involved, etc.

In a more sophisticated improvement, the vibrator 26 may be moved manually by a leader means, such as a cable 62 to which a suitable handle (not shown) may be connected, but, by way of a further improvement, the movement of the vibrator along the track may be accomplished by power, as by a winch 64 (FIG. 5) around which the cable 62 is wrapped. Still further, a plurality of vibrators 26 may be used (FIGS. 1 and 5) and the leading vibrator (closest to the winch 64) may be connected to the trailing vibrator or vibrators by connecting means such as a cable 66. Where plural vibrators are used, appropriate air pressure lines may be employed, as at 68 (FIG. 5). Thus, the plural vibrators are controlled simultaneously; i.e., they are activated and deactivated at the same time, as are their respective clamping or locking means.

FIG. 4 shows a modified form of track means 16a which features an integral or one-piece construction in which a web 200 has in-turned flanges 24a. This element may be affixed directly to the form or to an element such as that at 18. In either event, the additional form of track means is provided for carrying out the invention.

If desired, the winch 64 may be interconnected with the vibrator and clamp means control so that, when the vibrators are idle and the clamp means is released, the winch advances the vibrat0r(s) a predetermined amount and at that point the winch stops and the vibrat0r(s) and clamp means are activated again.

Referring again to the track means 16 or 160, it should be understood that the side mounting shown in FIG. 1 is exemplary and that either channel, or combinations thereof or their equivalents could be otherwise mounted on the form 10 as to location. For example, noting the area marked 15 in FIG. 1, it can be seen that either channel could be turned from their respective positions and mounted along the center lower part of the form 10 so as to be more closely proximate to and between the stems 14. Actually, several channels could be used at the same time, depending upon the size, nature, etc., of the form or other structure to be treated.

A significant advantage of the track means is that it lends itself admirably to integrating itself with and thus adding strength and rigidity to form or other structure. For example, the track may be welded along its entire length to the form as suggested at 21 in FIG. 4 and as referred to earlier with respect to FIG. 1. In this way, vibration is imparted to the entire form and hot spots or areas of extremely intense vibration are avoided, thus improving the final product. I-Iot spots are the result of localized vibration pulling fines" to the surface of the product, identifiable by dark areas in the concrete. This is objectionable from an architectural standpoint as well as from the quality and strength standpoints. To understand this, one must recognize the forces involved. For example, it is common to employ vibrators in the range of 8,000 to 12,000 vibrations per minute with anywhere from 0.8 to 2 lb. in. eccentricity. These forces are quite large and are difficult to control with prior means of attachment.

I claim:

1. A combination vibrator and mount for use with a structure to be vibrated, comprising track means for rigid affixation to the structure and having substantial length so as to extend continuously along a correspondingly substantial portion of the structure, a poweroperated vibrator carried by the track means, said vibrator and track means having interengaging portions supporting the vibrator initially relatively loosely for selective positioning thereof along the track means without disengagement from the track means, poweroperated clamp means carried by the vibrator and selectively operative to lock and unlock the vibrator to and from the track means, and power means for selectively activating both the vibrator and the clamp means for operating the vibrator and locking the clamp means substantially so as to position the vibrator during vibration of the structure and for deactivating both the vibrator and the clamp means to stop the vibrator and unlock the clamp means so as to enable re-positioning of the vibrator.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, including means for re-positioning the vibrator.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, in which the repositioning means is power-operated.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, including a plurality of similar vibrators similarly related to the track and power means and interconnected for re-positioning in unison.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, including means for re-positioning the vibrators.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, in which the repositioning means is power operated.

7. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the track means is an element of channel-like configuration having a web and a pair of inturned flanges directed toward but spaced apart across the length of the track means, the vibrator has portions interfitting with said flanges, and the clamp means is operative between the vibrator portions and the web.

8. The invention defined in claim 7, in which the web and flanges are integrally formed.

9. The invention defined in claim 1, in which both the vibrator and clamp means are air-powered.

10. The invention defined in claim 9, in which the clamp means is inflatable and is connected to the source of air for the vibrator.

11. A combination vibrator and mount therefor for use with a structure to be vibrated, comprising track means for rigid affixation to the structure and having substantial length so as to extend continuously along a substantial portion of the structure, a power operated vibrator, means cooperative between the vibrator and track means and providing interengaging portions for carrying the vibrator on the track means for selective positioning of the vibrator along the track means without dismounting the vibrator from the track means, clamp means for selective locking and unlocking the cooperative means, and means for operating the vibrator while it is clamped in a selected position along the track means.

12. The invention defined in claim 11, in which the vibrator is fluid-operated.

13. The invention defined in claim 12 in which the clamp means is fluid-operated.

14. The invention defined in claim 13 in which the vibrator and clamp means are interconnected so that the clamp means is locked while the vibrator is operated and unlocked with the vibrator is non-operative.

15. The invention defined in claim 11, including at least a second vibrator similarly related to the track means and means interconnecting the vibrators for selective poisitioning in unison.

16. In a system of the class described, elongated track means for rigid affixation to a structure to be vibrated and having means for carrying a vibrator for selective positioning therealong, said track means comprising a channel of one-piece construction in the form of a C having flanges facing but separated from each other, said flanges serving at least in part as the means for carrying the vibrator.

17. The invention defined in claim 16, in which the track means has a web of substantial area for welding to the form and imparting additional rigidity to the form.

18. In a system of the class described, elongated track means for rigid afiixation to a structure to be vibrated and having means for carrying a vibrator for selective positioning therealong, said track means including an elongated member adapted to be welded to the form and a pair of parallel angles welded to the member to provide an outwardly facing channel bordered by overhanginglips, said lips serving at least in part as the means for carrying the vibrator. 

1. A combination vibrator and mount for use with a structure to be vibrated, comprising track means for rigid affixation to the structure and having substantial length so as to extend continuously along a correspondingly substantial portion of the structure, a power-operated vibrator carried by the track means, said vibrator and track means having interengaging portions supporting the vibrator initially relatively loosely for selective positioning thereof along the track means without disengagement from the track means, power-operated clamp means carried by the vibrator and selectively operative to lock and unlock the vibrator to and from the track means, and power means for selectively activating both the vibrator and the clamp means for operating the vibrator and locking the clamp means substantially so as to position the vibrator during vibration of the structure and for deactivating both the vibrator and the clamp means to stop the vibrator and unlock the clamp means so as to enable re-positioning of the vibrator.
 2. The invention defined in claim 1, including means for re-positioning the vibrator.
 3. The invention defined in claim 2, in which the re-positioning means is power-operated.
 4. The invention defined in claim 1, including a plurality of similar vibrators similarly related to the track and power means and interconnected for re-positioning in unison.
 5. The invention defined in claim 4, including means for re-positioning the vibrators.
 6. The invention defined in claim 5, in which the re-positioning means is power operated.
 7. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the track means is an element of channel-like configuration having a web and a pair of inturned flanges directed toward but spaced apart across the length of the track means, the vibrator has portions interfitting with said flanges, and the clamp means is operative between the vibrator portions and the web.
 8. The invention defined in claim 7, in which the web and flanges are integrally formed.
 9. The invention defined in claim 1, in which both the vibrator and clamp means are air-powered.
 10. The invention defined in claim 9, in which the clamp means is inflatable and is connected to the source of air for the vibrator.
 11. A combination vibrator and mount therefor for use with a structure to be vibrated, comprising track means for rigid affixation to the structure and having substantial length so as to extend continuously along a substantial portion of the structure, a power operated vibrator, means cooperative between the vibrator and track means and providing interengaging portions for carrying the vibrator on the track means for selective positioning of the vibrator along the track means without dismounting the vibrator from the track means, clamp means for selective locking and unlocking the cooperative means, and means for operating the vibrator while it is clamped in a selected position along the track means.
 12. The invention defined in claim 11, in which the vibrator is fluid-operated.
 13. The invention defined in claim 12 in which the clamp means is flUid-operated.
 14. The invention defined in claim 13 in which the vibrator and clamp means are interconnected so that the clamp means is locked while the vibrator is operated and unlocked with the vibrator is non-operative.
 15. The invention defined in claim 11, including at least a second vibrator similarly related to the track means and means interconnecting the vibrators for selective poisitioning in unison.
 16. In a system of the class described, elongated track means for rigid affixation to a structure to be vibrated and having means for carrying a vibrator for selective positioning therealong, said track means comprising a channel of one-piece construction in the form of a C having flanges facing but separated from each other, said flanges serving at least in part as the means for carrying the vibrator.
 17. The invention defined in claim 16, in which the track means has a web of substantial area for welding to the form and imparting additional rigidity to the form.
 18. In a system of the class described, elongated track means for rigid affixation to a structure to be vibrated and having means for carrying a vibrator for selective positioning therealong, said track means including an elongated member adapted to be welded to the form and a pair of parallel angles welded to the member to provide an outwardly facing channel bordered by overhanging lips, said lips serving at least in part as the means for carrying the vibrator. 